Fundamental Studies on the Planting Design

An analysis of visual perception of solely planted trees

Abstract

We recorded the eye movements of human subjects using ophthalmograph (eye mark recorder: NAC 4 type) and analyzed the process of visual perception as they inspected the solely planted trees, i. e. Zelkova serrata (with fallen leaves), Cedrus deodara, Cinnamomum camphora, which have typical tree form within Japanese landscape trees. Subjects were ten undergraduate students (almost male) to each three species. The most frequent movements of eye fixation are the followings; Zelkova serrata: vertical movements along the stem and the main branches, Cedrus deodara: ten peoples' movements of fixations are divided into the following two types, such as vertical movements along the upper stem and askew movements along the edge of upper crown, Cinamomum camphora: horizontal movements in the crown. The first and second fixation are scattered on the stem in the case of Zelkova serrata, and around the center and top of crown in Cedrus deodara, and around the center of crown in Cinamomum camphora.